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Everyone is trolling Dabo Swinney at halftime of the Playoff semifinal
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Leading up to the Clemson-Ohio State College Football Playoff semifinal, Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney was surprisingly vocal in his defense of ranking the Buckeyes No. 11 in the Coaches Poll, arguing that OSU’s 6-0 record, while other teams played nine or more games, disqualified Ryan Day’s squad being ranked in the top 10.
He defended his ranking in an interview with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi:
“It means something to me. It’s my poll. I do it. … It has nothing to do with Ohio State — absolutely zero,” Swinney said. “You can change the name to Michigan or Georgia or Florida or Tennessee or Nebraska. Anytime you have a top-10 (ranking), it should be that special. This year it’s like really, really, really special and I wanted it to be that way.
“And so, I wanted to recognize the teams that played 9 games or more. And so, if you didn’t play 9 games, I just didn’t consider you for the top 10. That’s why they were 11. …
“Obviously, they’re a great team. They’re plenty good enough and talented enough to beat us and good enough to win the national championship. But, in my opinion, I don’t think that it’s right that 3 teams have to play 13 games to win it all and 1 team has to play 8. What universe am I living in? And it has nothing to do with them. It was about qualifying. And I didn’t think they were qualified based on the number of games.”
Swinney’s ranking and media defense of his ranking has made him a target for social media trolling as OSU lead 35-14 at the half.
Here’s a small of what’s being said on social media. Michael Jordan memes from “The Last Dance” are predictably popular:
Dabo Swinney: I’m ranking Ohio State 11th
Ohio State: pic.twitter.com/nU43bMzHHr
— Dan Lust, Esq. ? (@SportsLawLust) January 2, 2021
Dabo Swinney on the sidelines tonight after he voted Ohio State out of the Top 10…. pic.twitter.com/vpqc5GbBLk
— Michael D. Ruscher (@RuscherMichael) January 2, 2021
At halftime, Dabo Swinney is going to inspire his squad by detailing how there are 10 teams in the country better than Ohio State. #SugarBowl #CollegeFootballPlayoff
— Ryan Black (@RyanABlack) January 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/JimMWeber/status/1345196967304040450
I wonder if Dabo Swinney would rank Ohio State in the top 10 now? #CFBPlayoff
— NunesToons (@keifer4994) January 2, 2021
Maybe Dabo Swinney will put Ohio State in his Top 10 after this game ?#SugarBowl
— kofodfsu (@kofodfsu) January 2, 2021
Dabo Swinney was really clowning when he put Ohio State at 11th man ?
— Charles (@Charles11501) January 2, 2021
Dabo Swinney might wanna consider resubmitting his Coaches Poll ballot at halftime with Ohio State listed slightly higher. #CFBPlayoff
— Chris(to?️her) Larsen ? ? ? (@ESPNChrisLarsen) January 2, 2021
Make Dabo Swinney should've ranked #OhioState a little higher. #Ijs ??♂️ #OSUvsClem #SugarBowl
— ??є™ (@ZaeMartin5) January 2, 2021
#ClemvsOSU
Dabo Swinney: Ranks tOSU #11 on his coach’s ballotOhio State: pic.twitter.com/NiexlCnsdX
— Resting Dad Face (@duckinspokane) January 2, 2021
Whether or not Ohio State ends up winning, some HAS to ask Dabo Swinney post game if he still thinks the Buckeyes should be ranked 11th.
— Hunter Miller (@MillerHHunter) January 2, 2021
Dabo Swinney talked all that mess about Ohio State and Clemson is getting dog walked and Fields is outplaying Lawrence so far.
— Bryson B. (@BrysonButcher10) January 2, 2021
Dabo Swinney probably shouldn't have ranked Ohio State 11th
— MettaWorldCrazy (@MettaWorldCrazy) January 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/_joshuaterry/status/1345198257601916930
https://twitter.com/adarsh9pai/status/1345199966243987456
Remember when Dabo Swinney wanted to rank Ohio State 11th? ?
— Danny Meatballs ??? (@RealLittleDanny) January 2, 2021
When Ryan Day saw Dabo Swinney had Ohio State ranked 11th pic.twitter.com/BPq6RTrDsj
— Riley (@RilesIsTall) January 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/effie_garcia/status/1345200859680935938
Dabo Swinney’s No. 11 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes aren’t looking too bad!! #putsomerespectonourname pic.twitter.com/bKAktlj2aP
— Timothy Southers (@TSouthers) January 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/TheSportsTruth1/status/1345201611195305985
I wonder if Dabo Swinney stills thinks Ohio State should be ranked 11th.
— Josh White (@_JoshRWhite) January 2, 2021
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
